Hagel rips into other rethugs: ‘If You Wanted A Safe Job, Go Sell Shoes’ - full text here-

[RiverStone]

Yesterday morning, in his opening statements before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) said, “The American people are far ahead of us” on what to do next in Iraq.

Here is the complete text transcript:

This is a very real, responsible addressing of the most divisive issue in this country since Vietnam. Yes, sure, it’s tough. Absolutely. And I think all 100 senators ought to be on the line on this.

What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected?

If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes. This is a tough business. But is it any tougher, us having to take a tough vote, express ourselves and have the courage to step up on what we’re asking our young men and women to do?

I don’t think so.

When I hear, on both sides of this argument, impugning motives and patriotism to our country, not only is it offensive and disgusting but it debases the whole system of our country and who we are.

My goodness. Can’t we debate the most critical issue of our time, out front, in front of the American people?

The expect it. Are we so weak, we can’t do that?

I don’t think so. Like always, the American people are far ahead of us sitting here, far ahead of us. Because we’re concerned about politics. We’re concerned about our position. We’re concerned about our next election.

So we tinker. So we figure out wordsmithing. So should we oppose the president or just not support the president?

Different languages: disagree with the president ; that’s not as harsh as oppose the president.

But you know what, the American people have got this sorted out. They always have. They’re not conflicted with the nuances of life. They understand what’s going on. What we are proposing here — and everyone will have an opportunity to voice their opinion, present their amendments, make their case, as they should.

It’s the strength of who we are, the fabric of our society.

But we owe it to those men and women that we continue to send in that grinder.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/24/hagel-chides-colleagues-on-iraq-vote-%e2%80%98if-you-wanted-a-safe-job-go-sell-shoes%e2%80%99/


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Kudo's to Chuck Hagel for his vocal and emotional appeals to reason on this Iraq insanity. Sadly still, too many of his rethug colleagues march in lock step with Shrub as he brings them down with him on a failed and disastrous policy.

How many more lives will be lost before the Senate passes a BINDING resolution - no more of this non-binding symbolic bullshit please. I do rail into the rethugs frequently - and in many areas I differ with Senator Hagel on his views, yet, I want to acknowledge how much I appreciate him challenging other rethugs to pull their heads out!

:applause:






on edit: kant spel

[CatWoman]

1. saw that on Countdown last night

I was floored!!!!

[goclark]

2. So far I like his style nt

[mdmc]

3. In 2003 the American people wanted to invade Iraq

in 2007 the American people want to leave Iraq.

By 2008, I am predicting isolationism to be in vogue with the American people.

[Cleita]

7. Dirty little secret. It was always in vogue with me.

I have shocked people in the past stating this, but here are my reasons. Historically, the USA has been the big bully on the street. After WWII, there were two big bullies, the Soviet Union and us. We have had a policy of exploiting other nations for our benefit and supporting those puppet governments that didn't interfere with our exploitation no matter how brutal they were. We actually followed in lockstep the policies of the British Empire.

So I have always felt that until we can form a diplomacy that works with other nations for their welfare as well as ours, we should just concentrate on our domestic issues, jobs, health care, housing, stewardship of the land and all other things that affect our citizens lives and pursuit of happiness as is laid out in the Declaration of Independence. Our military should be focused on defense of our continent and other states and territories, not committed to overseas wars.

When the day comes that we can go out and interact with our neighbors on the planet without bullying them, then maybe we can enter the world diplomatic arena then. These are my two cents. Flame away.

[RiverStone]

10. Makes sense to me...

The best thing we could attack in Iraq or where ever a situation feels hopeless is - poverty. If we had the power to instill anything over there, I'd chose it be hope. Hope that one could lead a normal, productive, independent and safe life. We feed the rage thats already raging - a civil war that is shifting into total chaos. And Shrub did nothing but fuel the fires of death and destruction. What a tragic waste. There only resolution to this will be found in diplomacy - not the military.

Your words seem rational to me - can't see any reason to flame :)

What is that saying....Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."

-Chinese Proverb

[Cleita]

4. Yes, I was very impressed with his speech even though he is

a Republican. It will probably take him and others in his party that are willing to break with the lockstep mentality of that neo-fascist organization, who will in the end bring the Republican Party back to the conservative principles that are in line with democracy and the Constitution, not in direct conflict like the party is now.

He is proving himself to be a true American patriot unlike the majority of his fellow Republicans, including *, the President, who are loyal to something else other than our Constitution and the nation it represents. The fact is the scales need to start falling off the eyes of all those Republicans who have been propagandized by those neo-cons into believing that up is down and black is white.

[Double T]

5. Chuck Hagel is a man who will stand up for what he believes is right..........

and is NOT afraid to rock the incompetent, abusive and destructive status quo 'titanic' of the RW neocon conservative bushco regime. I applaud and admire this great American and human being for HIS bravery and guts.

[skypilot]

6. I wouldn't trust a Republican...

...to sell me shoes.

[Joe for Clark]

8. There was a time when there were liberal rebublicans and

conservative democrats - anyone else remember??

I learned to never judge by label.

Joe

[beltanefauve]

9. "The American people

are already ahead of us (on Iraq)". Didn't John Murtha already say this first?

As much as I can appreciate Hagel's vocal anti-war stance, I cannot help but wonder if he is simply positioning himself for a 2008 run, and playing to "The Middle", as the media puts it, and has been talking about over and over and over since the 2006 thumping. He also seems to have taken on "the maverick" role that John McCain has abandoned, and Johnny may be to old to run in 2008 anyway. As skypilot aid in an earlier post, "I wouldn't trust a Republican to sell me shoes". Heck, I wouldn't let a Republican shine my shoes, for that matter.

[Joe for Clark]

11. Maybe you are right -

But he is sure more in line with my views than Hillary is.

Would you vote for Lieberman over an anti war republican??

I won't.

Joe